Hitch Wire Stand

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a multiple wire dispensing hitch stand assembly which is adapted to fit into a receiver hitch of a vehicle. The multiple wire dispensing assembly includes 1) an extension bar that is adapted at one end to fit into a vehicle hitch; 2) a shaft support member adapted to receive and retain the second end of the extension bar; 3) a shaft support assembly perpendicularly connected to the shaft support member. The shaft support assembly contains a plurality of parallel spaced shaft members centrally connected to the longitudinal axis of the spindle support assembly. The shaft members each includes a spool support rotational member secured coaxially thereon, and additionally, a retaining cap is secured to the outer end of each shaft member. The shaft members are adapted to receive and retain a spool of wire thereon and to provide controlled contact therewith when the wire strands from the respective spools of wire are to be dispensed therefrom.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a dispenser apparatus assembly fordispensing elongate flexible materials and in particular to a hitchmountable system for providing a highly portable and convenient means ofdispensing multiple spools of electrical wire for construction purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of dispenser apparatuses, especially those adapted to dispensewire, are known in the prior art. More specifically, dispenser apparatusfor wire have been heretofore devised and tend to be devices that aremanually carried or manually pulled across the ground. Some knowndevices are either trailer towed devices or devices that requirepermanent attachment to a vehicle. These devices often dispense a singlestrand of wire, but are often either ill suited to the faster pace andgreater strains that accompany the improved pace of movement anddispensing possible with a movable transport, such as a motorizedvehicle, including strains that may dislodge the spool holding the wirefrom the transport.

Attempts to meet the greater strains of the faster pace of movementappear to have resulted in the development of devices that are lessconvenient and more time consuming to use. Although known devices havebeen developed that are able to dispense multiple strands of wiresimultaneously, in general, these devices are either fairly expensive tomanufacture, difficult to use, and are not capable of being removablyattached to a vehicle. Further, these devices have numerous moving partsthat can break or malfunction and require costly repair.

The majority of the dispensing devices in the prior art are adapted fordispensing materials that will be used in agricultural settings.Apparatus intended for dispensing wire for fencing in agriculturalsettings generally have their spools mounted such that its axis isperpendicular to the ground. These devices will encounter difficultiesin dispensing electrical wire, because if the spool is mountedperpendicular to the ground, the inherent weight of the wire causes itto fall and bind upon itself during the process of dispensing.

In a construction settings, a single strand of wire can be installed thelength of the job site and then the process can be repeated as manytimes as is necessary for each parallel run that is required. However itis preferred to be able to install a plurality of parallel runs of wiresimultaneously. Accordingly, if only one traversing across the job sitecan result in the dispensing of two, four, or even six parallel runs ofwire, a savings of both time and effort will result.

As receiver hitches are in common use, a spooled wire dispenser that isadapted for use with a receiver hitch can readily be used with manyvehicles. This eliminates the expense that is associated with the use ofa tow dolly to support and to transport the dispenser. Further, adispenser that extends an appropriate distance away from the vehicleallows the operator to operate a “pick-up truck,” a commonly usedvehicle in the construction industry, with the vehicle's tail gate inthe open or closed position, thereby maximizing the use of the vehicle.

Examples of wire dispensing assemblies are those disclosed in:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,000,588. (Brady)—The Brady patent discloses a ratherelaborate trailer for unrolling heavy rolls of wire used in electricalpower lines and has means to use gear and chain drives to insure theproper and accurate dispensing of the wire from the spools.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,107,878 (Wong) The Wong patent discloses a multiple reelcarrier mounted on a wheelbarrow type structure and having reelcompensating features and separate brake structures.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,789,778. (Zogg)—The Zogg et al patent teaches a wiredispensing structure attached to the three-point hitch on a farm tractorhaving pairs of wire spools which are rotated in opposite directions toact against each other as a brake when the tractor is stopped.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,655—(Whistle) The Whistle patent discloses a ratherelaborate post setting and wire dispensing apparatus attached to atractor structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,021 (Wall)—The Wall patent discloses a plurality ofstacked coil members utilized for the dispening fencing wire and issubstantially different structurally.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,737 (Sigle)—The Sigle patent discloses a multiplewire dispensing assembly for use in fences that holds the spools in avertical position and includes an additional trailer structure forsupporting the assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,900 (Conroy)—The Conroy patent discloses a multiplewire dispensing assembly for use in fences that holds the axes of thespools in a perpendicular position in relation to the ground that isunsuitable for dispensing heavy wire, such as electrical wire, becauseit binds upon itself during dispensing due to gravity.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,316 B1 (Heidelberger)—The Heidelberger patentdiscloses a towable wire dispensing assembly that includes groundengaging apparatus for supporting the dispenser which are unnecessary tothe purpose of dispensing wire.

In these respects, the Multiple Wire Dispensing Hitch Stand systemaccording to the present invention substantially departs from theconventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doingprovides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing ahighly portable and convenient means of dispensing elongate flexiblematerials such as electrical wire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofdispenser apparatus now present in the prior art, the present inventionprovides a new vehicle hitch mountable dispenser system constructionwherein the same can be utilized for providing a highly portable andconvenient means of dispensing single or multiple strands simultaneouslyof elongate flexible materials, including heavy gage electrical wire. Toattain this, the present invention generally comprises a frame removablyattachable to a vehicle's hitch behind the vehicle, and a spool mountingassembly mounted to the frame for supporting one or more spools on theframe. The spool mounting assembly comprises a plurality of shaftmembers attached through the center of an upwardly rising longitudinalaxis of the frame that are diposed parallel to the ground and at apredetermined space apart from one another. Each shaft member has aspool support rotational member mounted coaxially thereon in order toallow the spool to freely rotate around the shaft member. The exteriorend of each shaft members includes a retaining cap for securelyretaining spools on the spool support rotational member duringoperation.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a wire dispensinghitch assembly for readily connecting to a pickup truck, tractor, orother vehicle's hitch member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire dispensing assemblyhaving a plurality of shaft support assemblies, whereby it can retainand rapidly dispense multiple spools of wire simultaneously.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wiredispensing assembly that retains the wire spools in a horizontalposition, such that the axes of the spools are parallel to the ground,such that the electrical wire will not bind during the dispensingprocess.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wire dispensingassembly that securely retains the wire spools on said assembly duringoperation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wire dispensingassembly that can be manufactured easily and economically.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wiredispensing assembly that is easy to use and can be easily assembled ordisassembled on site.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wiredispensing assembly that can be operated when the tail gate of pickuptruck is in its raised or lowered position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wiredispensing assembly that can be easily disassembled for compact storagewhen not in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sturdy, long lastingwire dispensing assembly that with sufficient strength to withstand theforces imparted on it.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wiredispensing assembly that has a minimum amount of parts that can wear outor be damage such that it substantially maintenance free.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a reading of the attached specification andappended claims.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdiscussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a new multiple wire dispensinghitch stand assembly having wire spools located thereupon as they wouldused in actual operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, the new multiple wire dispensing hitchstand assembly of this invention can be better understood by referenceto FIG. 1. Illustrated in FIG. 1, is a multiple wire dispensing hitchstand assembly, indicated generally at 10. The multiple wire dispensinghitch stand assembly 10 of the invention is highly suitable fordispensing elongate flexible materials or members. The elongate flexiblematerials may include relatively stiff materials from a spool, such aswire, cable, barbed wire, and also may include relatively more flexiblematerials such as cord, rope, chain, and string. The dispenser is highlysuitable for being mounted to a towing vehicle, such as an all terrainvehicle with three or four wheels, smaller tractors and utilityvehicles, but may be used with larger vehicles.

In the preferred embodiment, the multiple wire dispensing hitch stand 10includes an extension bar 12 that is adapted at a first end 12 a thereoffor insertion into a receiver hitch 14 of a vehicle (not shown.)Extension bar 12 allows a vehicle, such as a pickup truck, that has atailgate to be operated in raised or lowered position while the hitchstand 10 is in use.

In general, the requirements for the construction of extension bar 12for use with receiver hitch 14 are well known and are not discussed ingreat detail herein. Briefly, extension bar 12 is sized to fit insidereceiver hitch 14. Passing through extension bar 12 is a hole 22 that isdisposed near the first end 12 a thereof. When the extension bar isproperly inserted into receiver hitch, hole 22 aligns with a receiverhitch hole 24 that passes through receiver hitch 14. A retaining pin 26is then inserted through receiver hitch hole 24 and simultaneouslythrough hole 22 in extension bar 12, thus securing the extension bar ina fixed position in receiver hitch 14. Pin 26 is usually held in placeby the use of a second pin (not shown) which passes through it once itis inserted through receiver hitch hole 24 and hole 22 in extension bar12.

Extension bar 12 also has a second end 12 b that is disposed at the endopposite to the first end 12 a thereof, that is adapted for insertioninto shaft support member 44. Extension bar end 12 b includes a hole 32passing through extension bar 12. When extension bar end 12 b isproperly inserted into the shaft support member 44, hole 32 aligns withshaft support member hole 34. A retaining pin 36 is then insertedthrough support member hole 34 and simultaneously through hole 32,thereby securing extension bar 12 in a fixed position in shaft supportmember 44. Pin 36 is usually held in place by the use of a second pin(not shown) which passes through it once it is inserted through shaftsupport member 44 and hole 32 in extension bar 12.

Shaft support member 44 is perpendicularly attached to a shaft supportassembly 50. A support member 48 creates a right triangle byinterconnecting said shaft support member 44 and shaft support assembly50 and provides additional reinforcement for the integrity of thestructure of multiple wire dispensing hitch stand assembly 10.

Extension bar 12, shaft support member 44, and shaft support assembly 50are preferably of a square shape in transverse cross section so as topresent a rigid structure for support of a plurality of horizontal shaftmembers 60. Each shaft member 60 is interconnected through a centralsection of shaft support assembly 50 and is attached, by welding or thelike, in a substantially perpendicular alignment thereto and at apredetermined spaced apart parallel relationship with respect to eachother.

Each shaft member 60 is provided with a hollow coaxial rotational member80 to receive and support a respective spool of wire 100 thereon and toallow a reduced frictional rotation of a spool 100 during use as will beexplained. The interior of each coaxial rotational member 80 islubricated and then placed such that it coaxially surrounds said shaftmember 60 allowing said rotational member 80 to coaxially rotate aroundsaid shaft member 60. Exterior retaining cap 90 is connected to theexterior end of said shaft member 60 to retain said coaxial rotationalmember 80. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when wire spool 100 is placed onwire caddy 10, said exterior retaining cap 90 retains said wire spool100 in place during operation. Each of the shaft members 60 are capableof holding a spool 100. Thus the maximum number of spools of wire (notshown) that can be simultaneously dispensed depends upon the number andrelative positioning of the shaft members 60. In the preferredembodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, six shaft members are able to hold sixspools respectively.

During operation, a strand of elongate material, such as electrical wireis dispensed off of a spool, such as spool 100, by securing the strand(not shown) to a fixed object that is not attached to the vehicle andthen moving the vehicle to the general location that is desired. As thevehicle moves, the strand, or up to six strands simultaneously, aredispensed as the spool 100 or spools rotate around each shaft member.After the vehicle stops, the strand or strands are then manually urgedinto location and severed from the spool.

The materials used for all of the component parts of the multiple wiredispensing hitch stand assembly 10 are as desired as are the methodswhereby each component part is attached to the other. However forpurpose of example, a common material for the component parts of thehitch stand assembly 10 is steel and a common method of attaching themtogether is by welding. The extension bar 12 must of course be sized tofit into the receiver hitch 14 and shaft support member 44. Usuallysquare steel tubing is required to accomplish this. As it is commonpractice to construct the receiver hitch 14 of different sizes ofmaterial stock to accommodate different towing capacities, the exactsize is not given. If it is desired, certain of the component parts maybe formed as an assembly by casting or by any other process that isknown or preferred. Similarly other alloys as well as syntheticmaterials may be used to form the component parts other than by use ofthe steel that is described hereinabove.

The invention has been shown, described and illustrated in substantialdetail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will beunderstood by those skilled in this art that other and further changesand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.

1. A multiple wire dispensing hitch stand assembly adapted for use witha vehicle receiver hitch, comprising: a) an extension bar having a firstend thereof that includes a substantially square cross section that isadapted for releasable insertion into said vehicle receiver hitch, saidreceiver hitch having a substantially square cross section, the insidedimensions thereof being larger than the outside dimensions of saidfirst end of said extension bar and being adapted to receive andsurround a portion of said first end of said extension bar, and saidextension bar having a second end that is disposed opposite with respectto said first end, said first end includes a hole in said extension baradapted to align with a receiver hitch hole in said receiver hitchwhereby a retaining pin is adapted for insertion through said hole andsaid receiver hitch hole; b) a shaft support member that is adapted toreleasably receive and surround a portion of said second end of saidextension bar, said shaft support member having a substantially squarecross section the inside dimensions thereof being larger than theoutside dimensions of said second end of said extension bar, said secondend includes a hole in said extension bar adapted to align with a shaftsupport hole in said shaft support member whereby a retaining pin isadapted for insertion through said extension bar hole and said receivershaft support member hole; c) a shaft support assembly having alongitudinal axis connected in a substantially perpendicular alignmentwith respect to the longitudinal axis of said shaft support member; d) asupport member interconnecting said shaft support member and said shaftsupport assembly, wherein said longitudinal axis of said support memberis disposed such that a right triangle is formed with respect thelongitudinal axis of said shaft support assembly and said shaft supportmember; e) a plurality of shaft members are extended in a substantiallyperpendicular alignment through said shaft support assembly such thattheir longitudinal axes are centrally secured to said shaft supportmember and disposed at a predetermined spaced apart parallelrelationship in respect to one another; f) a plurality of spool supportrotational members are located coaxially on the exteriors of saidsupport shafts, said rotational members permitting rotation of at leastone spool of wire thereon; and g) a plurality of retaining capsconnected to the outer edges of said spool shaft members, said retainingcaps prevents a spool of wire from sliding off a shaft member duringuse; whereby a strand of elongate material, such as electrical wire isdispensed off of a single or multiple spools of wire, when said strandis attached to a fixed object and then a vehicle is moved a distance toa desired location causing the strand to be dispensed as the spool orspools rotate around each shaft member.
 2. A multiple wire dispensinghitch stand as described in claim 1, further including a square sealingcap on the upper end of said shaft support assembly.